Tien-Mou/Taipei City. Korea won a tight ball game against Panama on Friday afternoon by a score of 2-0 at Tien-Mou Stadium. The Asian squad improves to 2-0 with the victory, while Panama drops to 0-2. Runs in the second and third were enough for Korea to prevail.
Korea manufactured their first run in the second. Dong Wook Kwon worked a seven-pitch walk, stole second, advanced to third on a sac bunt and eventually crossed the plate over on Ho Jun Kwon groundout.
One frame later they got their second run with a little bit of luck, as a groundball with two runners in scoring position nearly turned into a triple play. Sang June Moon beat the tag at home plate after a series of run downs and throws around the infield.
Panama tried to answer immediately. They put runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the third. But groundouts to the pitcher and second base ended the frame and the potential rally.
Seong Min Kim dominated on the mound, allowing just three hits and two walks in six scoreless innings. He struck out three, facing just four batters over the minimum. Panama’s starter Derek Arroyo took the loss, conceding two hits, two runs and two base on balls in two-plus innings.
Panama now hopes for its bats to wake up against Russia on Saturday morning in Shing-Sheng Stadium. Korea takes on Venezuela in the evening at Tien-Mou in a clash of undefeated favorites.
